CHAPTER SEVEN POINT TWO

"Alright, class, that's all for today. Don't forget your assignments on the Goryeo celadon are due next week!" Khynny's voice echoed through the lecture hall, lighter than she felt. She clapped her hands together, a gesture meant to infuse energy into the room, though her thoughts were still tangled with the events of the previous night.

Even though she had been trying to go back to normal, a part of her felt exposed. Vulnerable. Her eyes kept flicking toward the door, half expecting someone dangerous to burst in at any moment.

She watched the students pack their bags, their carefree chatter filling the space. A few stragglers lingered, and one of them—of course, Hye Jin—took her time, adjusting her bag and fiddling with her phone.

The energy in the room had shifted, a stark contrast to Khynny's usual animated lectures. Normally, she'd crack jokes about ancient Korean dynasties, engaging her students with witty remarks. But today, it felt like she was going through the motions, her mind wandering back to Ji Won's desperate face, the police reports, the conversation with her brother. What if those people are still out there, looking for us?

Hye Jin stood by her desk now, leaning against it casually. "Professor Khy, you okay? You look like you're trying to solve a thousand-year-old puzzle."

Khynny gave her a faint smile, though her mind was still elsewhere. "Puzzle's easy. It's people that are tricky."

Hye Jin let out a knowing laugh, plopping into the nearest chair. "People, huh? I don't think you're talking about students." Her tone was playful, but her eyes were sharp. She could sense Khynny's unease, just as she felt it herself.

Khynny sighed, letting her shoulders relax for the first time that day. "You caught me. I'm just worried. Things got a little... complicated."

She paused, lowering her voice as she glanced at the students leaving the hall, making sure no one was listening. "I keep thinking—what if it's not over yet? What if we're still in danger?"

Hye Jin's expression grew serious, matching the weight of the conversation. She sat up straighter. "I get it. I haven't stopped looking over my shoulder either. You think we should have stayed home?"

"I don't know," Khynny admitted, rubbing her temple. "I feel like it was a risk coming back to campus today. But we can't just stop our lives, can we? We reported everything to the police. Ji Won's in hiding. We did what we could, right?" Her voice wavered, as if she was trying to convince herself.

Hye Jin nodded slowly. "Yeah, but that doesn't mean we should stop being cautious. We should be watching our backs. I'm keeping an eye on things, and I'll stick close." She glanced around the nearly empty room, her sharp gaze scanning the few remaining students. "Better safe than sorry."

Khynny appreciated her friend's vigilance. But the lingering doubt wouldn't leave her. "I'm trying to focus on work, but I keep thinking—what if someone's watching us right now? What if they know where we are?"

Hye Jin reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone in this, Khynny. And you're not paranoid—just smart. We'll keep low for a bit, keep an eye on things, but we can't let fear stop us."

Khynny nodded, feeling the weight of their conversation. "I know. But sometimes it's hard to feel like I'm in control. We did everything we could to keep Ji Won safe, but there's no way to know if we're really safe."

Hye Jin gave her a reassuring smile. "It's not perfect, but we'll figure it out. If anything seems off, we'll deal with it. We're not sitting ducks."

Khynny smiled back, but her heart still fluttered with unease. She tried to shake it off as she gathered her things. "I just don't want to let my guard down."

"Good." Hye Jin stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "And if anything happens, we've got each other's backs."

As Hye Jin made her way to the door, she paused, turning back with a mischievous smile. "And if we have to lay low and disappear for a bit, I know a few places we can hide. But if it all blows over, drinks are on me."

Khynny chuckled, though her thoughts still lingered on the possibility of danger. "Deal. I'll hold you to that."

Once Hye Jin left for her next class, Khynny sat back in her chair, staring out the large windows that overlooked the campus. The familiar sounds of students chatting, bikes zipping by, and the distant hum of the city slowly filled the quiet space. But even though things felt normal, she knew better. Normal wasn't guaranteed anymore.